On this week's podcast: Epic country rock, blistering punk and a nearly seven-foot-tall clown mashes up Johnny Cash and The Who. Seriously.

(Image credit: Courtesy of the artists )

]]>Robin HiltonReview: San Fermin, 'Belong'In the last few years, composer Ellis Ludwig-Leone has presided over a big band that's grown grander and more ambitious in every phase of its sound.Thu, 30 Mar 2017 00:00:00 -0400https://www.npr.org/2017/03/30/521945776/first-listen-san-fermin-belong?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=sanfermin
https://www.npr.org/2017/03/30/521945776/first-listen-san-fermin-belong?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=sanfermin

In the last few years, composer Ellis Ludwig-Leone has presided over a big band that's grown grander and more ambitious in every phase of its sound.

(Image credit: Denny Renshaw/Courtesy of the artist)

]]>Stephen ThompsonSan Fermin Returns With 'Open' — And A New Album SoonEllis Ludwig-Leone's chamber-folk project is set to release its third album, <em>Belong</em>. "Open" finds Charlene Kaye singing beautifully about coming to terms with self-awareness and desire.Thu, 05 Jan 2017 12:00:00 -0500https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2017/01/05/507817796/san-fermin-returns-with-open-and-a-new-album-in-the-spring?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=sanfermin
https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2017/01/05/507817796/san-fermin-returns-with-open-and-a-new-album-in-the-spring?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=sanfermin

Ellis Ludwig-Leone's chamber-folk project is set to release its third album, Belong. "Open" finds Charlene Kaye singing beautifully about coming to terms with self-awareness and desire.

(Image credit: Denny Renshaw/Courtesy of the artist)

]]>Stephen ThompsonCharlene Kaye: 'It's Hard To Be What You Don't See' The San Fermin singer, who has a new solo EP, says she wants to be a model for Asian-American girls who don't see themselves represented in rock music.Sat, 20 Aug 2016 08:17:18 -0400https://www.npr.org/2016/08/20/490649513/charlene-kaye-its-hard-to-be-what-you-dont-see?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=sanfermin
https://www.npr.org/2016/08/20/490649513/charlene-kaye-its-hard-to-be-what-you-dont-see?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=sanfermin

The San Fermin singer, who has a new solo EP, says she wants to be a model for Asian-American girls who don't see themselves represented in rock music.

(Image credit: Aaron Seeburger/Courtesy of the artist)

]]>NPR StaffSong Premiere: San Fermin & Sam Amidon, 'Shiver'Sam Amidon's son played the drum pattern that eventually served as the beat for this collaboration between his father and the band San Fermin.Thu, 31 Mar 2016 10:07:00 -0400https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2016/03/31/472302432/song-premiere-san-fermin-sam-amidon-shiver?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=sanfermin
https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2016/03/31/472302432/song-premiere-san-fermin-sam-amidon-shiver?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=sanfermin

Sam Amidon's son played the drum pattern that eventually served as the beat for this collaboration between his father and the band San Fermin.

(Image credit: Courtesy of the artist)

]]>Bob BoilenSan Fermin On World Cafe In <em>Jackrabbit, </em>you can hear how things have changed for the chamber-pop band since its debut.Thu, 11 Jun 2015 15:40:00 -0400https://www.npr.org/sections/world-cafe/2015/06/11/413650041/san-fermin-on-world-cafe?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=sanfermin
https://www.npr.org/sections/world-cafe/2015/06/11/413650041/san-fermin-on-world-cafe?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=sanfermin

In Jackrabbit, you can hear how things have changed for the chamber-pop band since its debut.

(Image credit: Rich McKie/WXPN)

]]>Review: San Fermin, 'Jackrabbit' Some of the pretty grandiosity of the band's debut moves aside to make room for grittier energy, while <em>Jackrabbit</em> roots around for big ideas amid arrangements that clamor and storm.Sun, 12 Apr 2015 23:03:00 -0400https://www.npr.org/2015/04/12/398114825/first-listen-san-fermin-jackrabbit?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=sanfermin
https://www.npr.org/2015/04/12/398114825/first-listen-san-fermin-jackrabbit?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=sanfermin

Some of the pretty grandiosity of the band's debut moves aside to make room for grittier energy, while Jackrabbit roots around for big ideas amid arrangements that clamor and storm.

Hear a live performance from the eight-piece baroque pop band, led by composer Ellis Ludwig-Leone.

(Image credit: Brian Blauser/Mountain Stage)

]]>Reinventing The Music Video, One Street Corner At A TimeThe French website La Blogothéque is famous for what it calls "Take Away Shows": original, informal videos of musicians from across the U.S. and Europe playing live in unlikely places.Sat, 25 Jan 2014 02:00:00 -0500https://www.npr.org/2014/01/25/263377722/reinventing-the-music-video-one-street-corner-at-a-time?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=sanfermin
https://www.npr.org/2014/01/25/263377722/reinventing-the-music-video-one-street-corner-at-a-time?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=sanfermin

The French website La Blogothéque is famous for what it calls "Take Away Shows": original, informal videos of musicians from across the U.S. and Europe playing live in unlikely places.

(Image credit: Christopher Werth/Courtesy of the artist)

]]>Christopher WerthSan Fermin On World CafeThe band's debut album is full of stately folk-pop music. But its arrangements also owe a lot to songwriter Ellis Ludwig-Leone's classical roots, as well as his work with arranger Nico Muhly.Wed, 22 Jan 2014 16:29:00 -0500https://www.npr.org/sections/world-cafe/2014/01/22/264873758/san-fermin-on-world-cafe?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=sanfermin
https://www.npr.org/sections/world-cafe/2014/01/22/264873758/san-fermin-on-world-cafe?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=sanfermin

The band's debut album is full of stately folk-pop music. But its arrangements also owe a lot to songwriter Ellis Ludwig-Leone's classical roots, as well as his work with arranger Nico Muhly.

(Image credit: Tom O'Neal/Courtesy of the artist)

]]>Stephen Thompson's Top 10 Albums Of 2013The best albums of 2013 stand as album-length statements rather than mere collections of good songs. Each captures a powerful songwriting voice and, just as important, a central philosophy.Mon, 16 Dec 2013 07:02:00 -0500https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2013/12/16/250802246/stephen-thompsons-top-10-albums-of-2013?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=sanfermin
https://www.npr.org/sections/allsongs/2013/12/16/250802246/stephen-thompsons-top-10-albums-of-2013?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=sanfermin

The best albums of 2013 stand as album-length statements rather than mere collections of good songs. Each captures a powerful songwriting voice and, just as important, a central philosophy.

(Image credit: Courtesy of the artist)

]]>Stephen ThompsonAll Songs Considered: The Year In Music, 2013Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton are joined by Ann Powers and Stephen Thompson for a special edition of <em>All Songs Considered </em>that brings together the themes of the year, the albums that won us over and the musicians we lost in 2013.Wed, 04 Dec 2013 11:09:00 -0500https://www.npr.org/sections/bestmusic2013/2013/12/03/248640663/all-songs-considered-the-year-in-music-2013?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=sanfermin
https://www.npr.org/sections/bestmusic2013/2013/12/03/248640663/all-songs-considered-the-year-in-music-2013?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=sanferminBob Boilen and Robin Hilton are joined by Ann Powers and Stephen Thompson for a special edition of All Songs Considered that brings together the themes of the year, the albums that won us over and the musicians we lost in 2013.